#e4mExclusive:  ED searches InMobi in widening Gameskraft money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) investigation into online gaming platform Gameskraft Technologies has expanded beyond the company itself. The agency raided the offices of advertising technology firm InMobi Technology Services while simultaneously piecing together what it alleges is a sophisticated bot-driven ecosystem used to influence real-money games.

The findings form part of the agency's provisional attachment order (a copy of which is with e4m) in the alleged money laundering case against Gameskraft, where investigators have relied on employee statements, digital evidence, internal records and recorded examinations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to build their case.

Searches at InMobi broaden probe

According to the attachment order, the ED carried out searches on June 20 and June 21, 2026, at the Bengaluru office of InMobi Technology Services as part of its investigation into Gameskraft's operations. However, the agency recorded that no documents, electronic devices or other material were seized from the company during the searches, indicating that investigators considered the company relevant to the probe.

InMobi appears in the chronology of searches undertaken by investigators as they attempted to trace the broader business and technology ecosystem linked to Gameskraft.

Sources in the ED told e4m that Gameskraft had undertaken high-value transactions with InMobi, prompting investigators to examine the nature of those dealings as part of the money laundering probe.

The searches underscore the widening scope of the investigation. What began as a probe into alleged financial irregularities has evolved into a deeper examination of the company's technology infrastructure, operational practices and relationships with entities connected to its digital ecosystem.

InMobi did not respond to e4m's queries till the time of publishing.

This comes at a time when InMobi has roped in JPMorgan Chase, Jefferies, Kotak Mahindra Capital and Axis Capital to oversee its IPO. The company emerged as one of India’s earliest unicorns back in 2011.

Founded in 2007 by Naveen Tewari, Piyush Shah, Mohit Saxena, and Abhay Singhal, InMobi provides marketing and monetisation solutions to brands, advertisers, and publishers. In 2019, it diversified its business by launching Glance.

The SaaS platform has so far raised more than $320 Mn from marquee names such as Sherpalo Ventures, SoftBank, Kleiner Perkins, and others

Bot network at the core of ED's allegations

The attachment order are the ED's allegations that Gameskraft deployed automated bot accounts on its real-money rummy platform to participate in cash games while appearing as genuine players.

According to investigators, these bots were not merely tools used for software testing or product development. Instead, the agency alleges they were actively integrated into live gaming operations, enabling automated participation in contests involving real money. The ED contends that such deployment could materially influence player outcomes while creating an impression of healthy player liquidity on the platform.

The agency claims these findings are supported by backend records, technical documents and digital evidence collected during search operations.

Employee statements and recorded examinations

A significant portion of the ED's case rests on statements recorded from current and former Gameskraft employees under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

According to the attachment order, investigators questioned multiple executives and employees regarding the existence, functioning and management of bot accounts. During these examinations, officials confronted employees with internal emails, backend data, technical records and digital communications recovered during searches.

The order states that while certain executives denied knowledge of bot deployment, those denials were allegedly contradicted by statements made by other employees as well as documentary evidence collected by the agency. 

The ED has relied on these recorded conversations to argue that inconsistencies in employee testimonies corroborate its allegations regarding the use of automated players.

Investigators have also relied on what they describe as internal communications and technical discussions among employees while reconstructing the alleged bot ecosystem.

Backend records allegedly tracked 'BOT Revenue'

The attachment order cites several internal terminologies that investigators believe point towards systematic monitoring of automated accounts. These include references such as "BOT Revenue," "BOT Loss" and "BOT Players" in backend systems and internal records.

According to the ED, these references indicate that bot-related performance was measured alongside regular player activity rather than being limited to isolated software testing.

Investigators allege that internal dashboards and backend databases contained dedicated metrics tracking bot participation, revenue generation and operational performance. The agency argues that these records demonstrate a structured mechanism for monitoring automated accounts over a sustained period.

Digital evidence forms backbone of investigation

Beyond employee testimonies, the ED has relied extensively on digital evidence recovered during searches.

According to the attachment order, investigators analysed electronic records, internal emails, database extracts, chat communications and technical documents while reconstructing the alleged functioning of the bot ecosystem. The agency contends that these materials corroborate employee statements and establish links between internal operational discussions and backend implementation.

The order suggests investigators identified references to bot deployment across multiple internal systems and technical records, which they believe demonstrate planning, execution and monitoring of automated participation in games.

Potential implications for the gaming industry

The investigation marks one of the most detailed enforcement examinations into the alleged use of bots within India's real-money gaming industry.

While online gaming companies have traditionally acknowledged the use of automated systems for software testing, onboarding and quality assurance, the ED's allegations concern bots allegedly participating in live cash games—an assertion that, if established, could have significant legal and regulatory implications for the sector.

The inclusion of InMobi in the investigation, despite the absence of any seizure during the searches, is also expected to draw industry attention. The company's appearance in the search records illustrates the breadth of the ED's investigation as it sought to map entities connected to Gameskraft's operational and commercial ecosystem.

The provisional attachment order represents the ED's version of events and forms part of an ongoing investigation. The allegations contained in the document are yet to be tested before the appropriate judicial forums. 

Gameskraft has previously contested regulatory proceedings initiated against it in separate matters, and the outcome of the money laundering investigation will ultimately depend on adjudication under the applicable legal framework.